Top DJ to run 24 hour online rave in aid of PIPS

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A top DJ, who has played nightclubs from Ibiza to New York, is to run a 24 hour online rave to raise funds for mental health charity PIPS.

Mike Callan, a well known DJ in the nightlife scene for 26 years, is to run the DJ set tomorrow night.

He is hoping for a spectacular turnout to lift the Lockdown blues and raise some much needed funds for local charity PIPS.

Mike, who has most recently had residencies in Belfast and Portadown, says music has played a massive part in his life and believes music can help lift everyone’s spiritis.

DJ Mike Callan.DJ Mike Callan.
DJ Mike Callan.

He has seen the effects the COVID restrictions has had on many of his friends in the industry.

“For most of them the music industry is all they had and now without it many of them are struggling with their mental health,” said the 41-year-old father of two daughters who lives in Tandragee.

His wife Sarah said: “During the lockdowns Mike started doing livestreams on Facebook for people to tune in, hoping it would lift peoples spirits, but he wanted to do more than that.

“He thought his livestreams could do a bit more so he has set up a charity event for PIPS, an organization that provides responsive care to those in need and also provide support for those bereaved by suicide.

“Many charities have been effected by the restrictions so outdoor fundraising events have not been possible.

“Mental health is on the rise and PIPS provides a much needed service but they need people like Mike to help. Raising funds for PIPS will help them continue their work.”

Mike, who is originally from Dundalk, started working at a nightclub collecting glasses aged 13.

He was instantly hooked on the nightlife industry. The nightclub got a massive refurbishment and a state of the art lighting system and the club used to fly a guy from England to control the lights.

Sarah revealed: “Mike used to watch everything the guy was doing.

“One weekend the guy didn’t show up and the owners were freaking out and Mike stepped up and said he knew what to do, the owners asked him to demonstrate and he pulled it off.

“At 14 this was his first job inside a DJ box, so he started building his music collection, going to Dublin, Newry and Belfast to buy records.

“At 16 he started running raves in a small nightclub every Saturday night. At 17, after his leaving cert exams he was off to Ibiza,” said Sarah.

Since then he has worked at clubs in Belfast such as La Lea, Milk, Event Horizon, Eivissa, El Divino. He also worked in Euphoria in Portadown was Eurphoria and the Cellar Bar in Lurgan.

Mike will start his 24 hour Dj set in aid of PIPS on Friday the 5th of February at 8pm and finish on Saturday at 8pm. It will be streamed live on Mixcloud for anyone to see. He picked this date as it is Mental Health week.

To join in check it out here

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If you would like to donate, click here

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